You just never know when

- G - Rated: Love can happen anywhere and usually when you least expect it. Never think it won't! Just a short romance story.

Submitted:Jan 6, 2013
Reads: 116
Comments: 8
Likes: 5

Jack Hooper turned in all his gear
to the quartermaster at Fort Benning, Ga. He would not need it
anymore after today as he would be a civilian again. The last
three years took him from being a high school graduate to the
fighting in Afghanistan. Ultimately Jack spent most of his time
as the company clerk for his unit with the First Infantry
Division of the U.S. Army. Jack was 21 now and was finally a man
in every sense of the word. Jack experienced many firsts since
joining the army. First time getting drunk, getting laid,
shooting a rifle, living away from home and many more. His
ultimate destination was Cleveland, Ohio where his family lived
and where he would make his own home. Jack broke up with his
girlfriend a month before he left for boot camp and had not been
concerned with finding a replacement while he was in the
service.

He collected his final payout and
got a ride to the airport at Columbus, Ga. He then caught a hop
to Atlanta where he waited to board his plane for Hopkins
international airport in Cleveland. He didn't tell his parents he
would be arriving today. They knew he was due to get out very
soon though. Jack wanted to surprise them. He didn't want them
making a fuss and having a party.

Nancy sat at the gate waiting to
board her final connection home to Cleveland. It was very hectic
the last few days. She dropped her daughter, Anne, off with her
mom and flew to Las Vegas to attend her father's wedding to his
new wife Mary. This was the first time she had even met Mary. She
knew Mary was only 22 years old and only slightly older than her,
but she looked so much younger in person. She didn't know what
dad was thinking marrying a girl 18 years younger than him. Nancy
missed her little girl Anne. This was the first time they had
ever been apart. However, trying to take Anne to Vegas for the
weekend would have been too much trouble. The flight time was one
hour and fifteen minutes. Her mom would be there to pick her
up.

The plane landed at the gate and
the passengers disembarked. After a short time the attendant
announced the flight to Cleveland was ready for boarding. It was
a small jet with 22 rows of seats, two on each side. The
attendant announced the flight would be full that day and
passengers had to sit in their assigned seats. Jack saw the
pretty young brunette sitting in 16B and felt lucky, he dreaded
being crammed in a seat next to a fat old person even if only for
an hour.

Nancy had noticed the young soldier
in uniform back at the waiting area. He was handsome and
confident looking. She wondered where he was going. She imagined
maybe he was going home and had a girl waiting for him. Now he
was walking toward the seat next to her. She felt a slight flush
come over her because she had been thinking about him before he
boarded.

"Hello," Jack said giving Nancy a
nod before he pushed his bag under the seat in front of his and
sat down.

"Hi," Nancy responded with a polite
smile before turning to look out the window.

Jack noticed the slightest hint of
fragrance from the brunette and thought to himself "Damn, she
is good looking and smells great."

Nancy continued looking out the
window. She often found it awkward to talk to strangers.

The stewardess gave her obligatory
safety speech about the air mask, exits, and seat belts. Then the
Captain came over the intercom and welcomed everyone and told the
weather in Cleveland and the flight time. The plane was
proceeding to the runway while he talked. The stewardess was
checking seat belts, when she came to Jack she said, "Welcome
aboard soldier. Are you going home or heading out?"

"Going home ma'am, I just got out
today!" Jack said with a smile.

"Good for you, congratulations,"
The attendant said with a friendly smile before moving on.

"Do you live near Cleveland too?"
Jack asked her before looking at her left hand and noticing she
had no wedding ring on.

"Yes, I went to a wedding in Las
Vegas and am on my way home."

The plane engines roared and the
plane left the runway and was steeply climbing and banking to
head in the right direction. Nancy watched out the window as the
ground started to fade away and Jack looked around her head so he
could see too.

Her hair was so pretty and smelled
herbal he noticed while he was looking. Nancy felt Jacks
attention to her while as he looked out the window. She was not
surprised, she was attractive and he had been sequestered with
mostly men for a while.

The stewardess came down the aisle
with a beverage cart taking orders and handing out peanuts or
crackers. Jack and Nancy both ordered coffee.

"My parents don't know I am coming
today. I am going to surprise them." Jack said while sipping his
coffee.

"I bet you're excited," Nancy said
making conversation.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about
this moment for a long time now. There is a whole big world out
there waiting for me. I am stoked!"

They finished their coffee in
silence. Nancy opened her notebook computer to read for a little
while. Jack noticed the picture of Anne as it was set as the
background on the desktop.

"That is such a pretty little girl,
she looks a lot like you, is that a picture of you when you were
a child?" Jack said and immediately though maybe he was out of
place asking that.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be
nosey." Jack said right away.

"That is my daughter," Nancy said
proudly.

"Oh, I didn't know you were
married." Jack said innocently and thoughtlessly.

"I am not married, and it is a long
story." Nancy said annoyed at the question.

Jack felt a lump in his throat and
he felt embarrassed for being so bold.

"I'm sorry. I should learn when to
keep my mouth shut." Jack said looking away from the notebook
screen.

Nancy knew she sounded annoyed and
Jack felt bad.

"It is alright. Just one of those
unfortunate mistakes people make when they think they're in
love." Nancy said while peeking around to see Jack's face.

Jack looked at Nancy and gave her a
polite smile.

"Your daughter is beautiful, just
like her mother." Jack said without hesitating.

Nancy blushed but did not try to
hide it.

"Thanks Jack, for the nice
compliment."

They sat there in silence for a
long time. Suddenly the Captain spoke and announced that they
would begin their descent into Cleveland and everyone should make
sure their seat belts were securely fastened.

"Do you have a girl waiting for
you?" Nancy asked out of the blue.

"No I don't." Jack said with a huge
grin.

Their eyes met and they looked long
into each other's eyes without speaking.

"May I call on you sometime, just
to go out for coffee maybe and talk?" Jack asked with a hopeful
look.

"Sure why not, let me write my
number down for you." Nancy said shrugging her shoulders.

They talked for a few minutes while
they exited the plane about where they lived and Cleveland in
general. Jack had no checked luggage so he said goodbye and told
Nancy he would call her in a few days. While Jack was riding home
in the cab he smiled to himself when he realized it was
Valentine's Day that he met Nancy.